29-year-old man charged with 3 home invasions in Burton could face more charges after victim dies of heart attack

BURTON, MI – A 29-year-old man was charged with three counts of home
invasion and police are seeking a murder charge after one of the victims died
of an apparent heart attack after the incident, police said.

Jason Justice was arrested early Sunday morning after the three home
invasions that all took place within a mile of each other, police said. A
72-year-old man died of an apparent heart attack after he discovered his house
had been broken into, said Burton Police Lt. Mike Odette.

The victim, whose name has not been released, called police and told them his
medication had been stolen during a home invasion. Odette said the medication
was for blood pressure and blood sugar, and also had a history of heart issues.
Police believe the stress of the incident and lack of medication contributed to
his death, Odette said.

When police arrived at the victim's location, he did not respond. Police were able to
get inside and found the man had died, Odette said. Police are in the process of
seeking the murder warrants, but they have not been obtained, he said. The man
was arraigned on three first-degree home invasion charges on Tuesday.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said he has ordered an autopsy, and
declined to comment further on the case.

Burton police received a call of a home invasion around 12:45 a.m. Sunday at
a home in the 6000 block Burning Tree Drive. The homeowner caught the suspect in the
living room, and the suspect fled the scene. Then at 1:05 a.m., Odette said Burton
police received a call about another home invasion on Statler Drive near Belsay
where the suspect was caught by the homeowner in the kitchen. The suspect fled,
Odette said.

Police put a perimeter around the area, and pulled over a vehicle matching a
description. The man pulled over his vehicle and then fled on foot, said Odette.
He was arrested a short time later, Odette said.

The man was lodged in the Genesee County Jail. Just before 6 a.m., police received
a call from the now-deceased 72-year-old man who had just woke up and
discovered the house, located in the 6000 block of Potter near Belsay Road, had been broken into.

Odette said the suspect could be responsible for upward of 10 home invasions
in the last two weeks. They were all similar in the point of entry and items
(prescription medication and electronics) stolen.

Odette also said Burton police are working with Flint Township police for
potential connections.

A judge on Tuesday morning set bond on the three home invasion charges at
$300,000 each. The suspect has an Aug. 14 court date set. He also was charged
with resisting arrest.